Waterproof acoustic structure applicable in conjunction with speaker
The invention relates to an acoustic structure which complies with protection standard IP 67 and which can be used to provide hands-free capability e.g. in cellular terminals or small radio receivers. The acoustic structure comprises, in a device body (100), two interconnected, separate cavities for speaker means (151, 152, 153) and isolating means (120, 125, 130, 140). An isolating diaphragm (125) belonging to the speaker arrangement according to the invention is utilized simultaneously as an isolating means against dust and water and as a sound-reproduction element.
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The invention relates to an acoustic structure applicable in conjunction with a speaker, which structure is dustproof and waterproof according to the IP 67 class of protection of the IEC/EN 60529 standard of the International Electrotechnical Commission, and which comprises, in the body of a device two discrete, interconnected cavities for speaker means and isolating means. The invention also relates to a device employing the acoustic structure.
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the authoritative worldwide body responsible for developing consensus global standards in the electrotechnical field. The IEC is dedicated to the harmonization and voluntary adoption of these standards, supporting the transfer of electrotechnology, assisting certification and promoting international trade.
Since 1906, the IEC hes served the world's electrical industry, developing international standards to promote quality, safety, performance, reproducibility, and environmental compatibility of materials, products, and systems. It has also published standards for the electronics and telecommunications industries. The IEC's present membership of 51 countries includes most major trading nations.
The IEC standards are widely adopted as the basis of national or regional electrotechnical standards, and are often quoted in manufacturer's specifications and by users when calling for tenders. Over 2000 standards cover virtually every topic of electrotechnology from acoustics, to medical devices, to insulating materials, to aircraft, to nuclear instruments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCellular terminals can be used in many different environments. Increasingly, terminals will be used in environments where they are subject to moisture or fine dust. Therefore there are terminals on the market in which the cover parts constitute a dustproof and waterproof structure assembled of two separate components. The speaker element in the terminal resides within this waterproof structure.
In some respects such a structure is problematic. First, the audio level produced by the speaker element in this kind of an arrangement is so low that the user of the terminal has to place the terminal close to his ear. The terminal cannot be used hands free because the audio level is not sufficient for that kind of use.
Making the speaker element dustproof and waterproof means usually that a sealing diaphragm has to be placed in front of the speaker element, which diaphragm with its fastening structures will result in that the terminal must be designed and fabricated a few millimeters thicker so that said isolating diaphragm can be positioned at the right distance from the speaker element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn object of the present invention is to provide a compact dustproof and waterproof speaker structure the acoustic pressure produced by which is so high that it makes possible to advantageously produce a hands-free-capable cellular terminal.
The objects of the invention are achieved by an arrangement in which a dustproof and waterproof isolating diaphragm is placed in a separate cavity laterally adjacent to the speaker element proper, into which cavity the acoustic pressure produced by the speaker element is directed. The isolating diaphragm isolates the speaker element in a dustproof and waterproof manner from space external to the terminal. At the same time the isolating diaphragm serves as a sound reproducing element and its dimensions have an effect on the acoustic pressure produced. The acoustic pressure produced by the arrangement according to the invention is sufficient to realize a hands-free-capable terminal.
An advantage of the invention is that it can be used to provide a hands-free-capable compact dustproof and waterproof speaker structure in portable devices, for example.
Another advantage of the invention is that the acoustic pressure produced by means of the invention outside the device is higher than that produced by solutions according to the prior art.
A further advantage of the invention is that by placing the isolating diaphragm, which functions as both an isolating means and sound-reproducing means, in a cavity according to the invention beside the speaker element, the dimensions of said isolating diaphragm can be chosen independent of the speaker element proper and, thus, the speaker structure can always be given dimensions which produce the desired acoustic characteristics.
A still further advantage of the invention is that using adjacently placed cavities it is possible to freely choose the location of the outgoing sound path on a side or end of the device, for example.
A still further advantage of the invention is that the dimensions of the cavity for the speaker element proper can also be chosen freely in order to meet the acoustic demands.
A still further advantage of the invention is that the terminal can be fabricated several millimeters thinner than what is possible using prior-art waterproof and dustproof speaker structures.
A speaker arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that an isolating diaphragm belonging to isolating means is adapted so as to serve simultaneously both as an isolating means for dust and water and as a sound-reproducing element.
Some preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.
The basic idea of the invention is as follows: Speaker means of a terminal are located in a special cavity in the body of the terminal fabricated advantageously of plastic, which cavity hereinafter is called the first cavity, the dimensions of which are chosen in order to produce acoustic characteristics desired. An isolating diaphragm serving as a sealing element and protecting against dust and water is placed in a second cavity in the body of the terminal, which second cavity is a separate cavity located laterally beside the first cavity reserved for the speaker means. From the first cavity reserved for the speaker means an acoustic path leads to said second cavity in which the isolating diaphragm is placed. The isolating diaphragm advantageously divides the cavity into two sub-cavities separated from one another in a dustproof and waterproof manner. Of these sub-cavities a first one is in direct connection with a first acoustic path coming from the cavity reserved for the speaker means. Sound waves produced by the speaker element are conducted via this first acoustic path into the first sub-cavity. The sound waves produced by the speaker element also make the isolating diaphragm in the second cavity vibrate. The movement of the isolating diaphragm results in pressure variation in the second sub-cavity from which there is arranged an open second acoustic path outside the terminal. This second acoustic path advantageously has dimensions such as to produce desired sound reproduction characteristics. Dust and water outside the terminal can only enter this second sub-cavity because the isolating diaphragm prevents them from entering the first sub-cavity and thereby also prevents them from getting into contact with the speaker means proper.
The invention is below described in detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which
The dustproof and waterproof acoustic structure/speaker arrangement according to the invention is below described using mainly examples relating to an exemplary cellular network terminal. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the acoustic structure/speaker arrangement according to the invention can also be utilized in other devices requiring sound reproduction, which devices may be either fixed or mobile. Examples of such devices include robot phones, direct-call intercom phones, small portable audio devices and radio receivers. What is essential in the invention is that it can be used to isolate a speaker element in a device from the external environment in a dustproof and waterproof manner. The device can advantageously be used as a hands-free-capable device. This means that the audio level produced by the device is high enough so that a message or signal reproduced by the device is understandable also when the device is not held in the vicinity of the user's ear. The protection standard met using the arrangement according to the invention is IP 67.
In
Reference designator 113 represents an audio path from the cavity 110, hereinafter called the second audio path, through which the sound waves produced by the speaker arrangement exit the terminal. The design of the second audio path 113 is such that its acoustic characteristics will not suppress the sound level obtained from the speaker arrangement according to the invention. Advantageously the second audio path 113 is constructed so as to open up at that end of the terminal where the speaker arrangement according to the invention is located. With a second audio path designed this way it is possible to get the sound obtained from the terminal to leave the terminal along the longitudinal axis thereof. A particularly advantageous effect on the audio level is achieved when the terminal utilizing the invention is placed on a sound reflecting surface which is horizontal enough. That surface can then be used to direct the sound waves coming from the second audio path 113 so that they are reflected from said surface towards the user of the terminal. With the speaker arrangement according to the invention it is possible to achieve an acoustic pressure of 100 dB at a distance of 5 cm from the device. Thus the speaker arrangement according to the invention can be used as a hands-free-capable device.
From the point of view of the inventional idea it is significant that the openings of the second cavity and first cavity 150 in the terminal body 100 are located on different sides of the terminal body 100. This way the structure according to the invention makes it easier to acoustically isolate the rear air space and front air space in the speaker element. Now each cavity can have individual dimensions according to desired audio characteristics and/or sealing requirements. The proportions of the cavities shown in
Lateral sections A–B and C–D in
There is also another way of employing the attachment disc 120 in the speaker arrangement according to the invention. The attachment disc 120 is shaped such that there is a substantially circular aperture 122 in the center of it. The size and position of the aperture 122 are chosen such as to conduct the pressure variations caused by the sound coming from the first acoustic path 111 towards the isolating diaphragm 125. Direction of the pressure variations into the aperture 122 is emphasized by forming an audio channel 121 on the upper surface of the attachment disc 120, which here refers to the surface closer to the sealing part 130 in an assembled structure, which audio channel leads from the first acoustic path 111 around the aperture 122. Correct positioning of the audio channel 121 is ensured by means of a lug 123 which, in conjunction with the installation of the attachment disc 120, fits into an alignment hollow 112 in the terminal body 100.
Attached this way, the isolating diaphragm 125 is free to vibrate in either direction from the rest position shown in
The isolating diaphragm 125 also functions as an acoustic element in the terminal according to the invention. Because of the design of the lower surface 126 of the attachment disc 120, the isolating diaphragm 125 can vibrate freely around its rest position. The size and shape of the first sub-cavity 110A and second sub-cavity 110B have effect on the audio level and frequency band obtained from the terminal via the second acoustic path 113.
The cavity 150 has such dimensions that there remains free air space at the upper part thereof when the speaker element 151 has been installed, the shape and size of which free air space are acoustically as desired. A first acoustic path 111 opens from this free air space towards the second cavity 110. Sound waves produced by the speaker element 151 are conducted via this acoustic path 111 into the second cavity 110 where they are directed towards the isolating diaphragm 125. The isolating diaphragm has such dimensions that it produces a desired audio level on the second acoustic path 113 through which the sound waves are released outside the terminal.
The speaker arrangement according to the invention can be advantageously applied in conjunction with various cellular terminals and other portable devices. The arrangement according to the invention has no effect on other mechanical or electrical components of the terminal than the speaker arrangement described above. An electrical signal can be brought to the connectors of the speaker element proper using any prior-art technique.
Embodiments of the invention were described above. The invention is not limited to the embodiments just described. For example, the basic shape of the first and second cavity may be something else than the circular shape here described. From the standpoint of the invention it is essential that said cavities can be located in the terminal body structure in an adjacent manner so that there is no need to increase the thickness of the terminal. The inventional idea can be applied in numerous ways within the scope defined by the claims.
Claims
1. An acoustic structure capable of hands-free speaker function and protected against dust and water comprising, in a device body, two interconnected, separate cavities for a speaker, and an isolator, where an isolating diaphragm, belonging to the isolator, is arranged to simultaneously function as an isolator for dust and water and as a sound-reproduction element, wherein on top of the isolating diaphragm on a shoulder in a second sub-cavity there is additionally placed a substantially circular attachment disc which has an aperture in it to direct a sound wave produced by the speaker and conducted via a first acoustic path into the second sub-cavity and there in a first sub-cavity, towards the isolating diaphragm.
2. The acoustic structure according to claim 1 wherein at least the perimeter area of that surface of the isolating diaphragm which faces the attachment disc is treated with glue in order to attach the isolating diaphragm to the attachment disc in a waterproof manner.
3. The acoustic structure according to claim 2 wherein at least the perimeter area of the other surface of the isolating diaphragm is also treated with glue in order to attach the isolating diaphragm to the shoulder in a waterproof manner.
4. The acoustic structure according to claim 1 wherein on that side of said attachment disc, which is not facing the isolating diaphragm, an audio channel is provided the width of which substantially at least equals the diameter of the aperture in the attachment disc, and which audio channel extends at least to said aperture.
5. The acoustic structure according to claim 4 wherein the attachment disc further comprises a lug arranged so as to be inserted in an alignment hollow in a second cavity in order to make the audio channel substantially parallel to the first acoustic path.
6. The acoustic structure according to claim 5 which further comprises a sealing part against the device body and attachment disc, and a cover part against said sealing part, which are arranged so as to press the isolating diaphragm, supported on the attachment disc, against the shoulder in order to close up the second sub-cavity in a dustproof and waterproof manner.
7. The acoustic structure according to claim 4 wherein the side of said attachment disc facing the isolating diaphragm is made concave to enable the isolating diaphragm to move in both directions about its rest position, and which movement is arranged so as to occur in accordance with the variations of acoustic pressure coming from the speaker into the first sub-cavity.
8. The acoustic structure according to claim 7 wherein the movement of the isolating diaphragm is arranged so as to cause variation of acoustic pressure in the second sub-cavity from where said variations of acoustic pressure are arranged to be conducted outside the device body via a second acoustic path.
20040037441 | February 26, 2004 | Konishi et al. |
2064265 | October 1981 | GB |
- Patent Abstracts of Japan, JP2002271465, Hitachi Kokusai Electric, Inc., Sep. 2, 2002.
- Patent Abstracts of Japan, JP11069472, Uniden Corp., Sep. 3, 1999.
Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 1, 2003
Date of Patent: Dec 13, 2005
Patent Publication Number: 20040081325
Assignee: Nokia Corporation (Espoo)
Inventors: Janne Rautio (Oulu), Juha Petteri Jylänki (Oulu)
Primary Examiner: Huyen Le
Attorney: Harrington & Smith, LLP
Application Number: 10/677,981